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Japan Post!

I’m headed back to Japan for my 5th time later this November and finally feel confident enough sharing some insights about traveling in this beautiful country. Below are tips about traveling alone, being respectful in Japanese culture and a few great areas to visit/stay in. I hope this guide will help you feel more confident to take a trip, especially on a budget, and do some spontaneous sight seeing/events while you’re there. I’m also a comic artist and illustrator so I’ll be suggesting places aimed at my interests.

So! First thing’s first, I want to say that Japan is SUPER safe and very easy to get around. As a woman I have felt free to wander and get lost, unlike the way I feel in most countries, especially in Europe or the US. It’s a little complicated at first (the train map looks like noodles!) but know that if you get on the wrong train it’s not going to take you anywhere unsafe. It may take you 30 mins to get back on the right track, but it’ll be OK and there will always be people to ask for help. Asking for help from either a train station attendant, policeman (they’re usually in the station exclusively for that reason), or a passerby is totally acceptable and most people will be happy to help you. I have had a few instances where Japanese men wouldn’t look at me after politely excusing myself for asking them a question which didn’t feel great but there was always someone nearby I could ask instead. In Japan not everyone speaks English (though many do, especially in larger cities) so asking questions in simple Japanese is your best bet and, of course, less obnoxious. Here are some phrases to memorize for trains and directions…

First, start with: sumimasen, eigo ga hanasemasu ka? Excuse me, do you speak English? -Eki wa doko desu ka? Where is the station? Kono densha wa Kyoto-e ikkimasu ka? Does this train go to Kyoto? - Asakusa ikiwa kono hommu desuka? Is this the right platform for Asakusa? - Nan-ji ni demaska? What time does it leave? - Kono denshawa dokodesuka? Where does this train go?

Also memorize these simple phrases to help in any situation:

- Sumimasen. Excuse me. (Formal) - iie, Wakarimasen / Hai, wakarimasu. No, I don’t understand / Yes, I understand. - Arigato gozaimasu / arigato. Thank you / thanks. - Sayonara. Goodbye. - Dōzo. After you.

TRAINS:

- When buying a ticket you commonly have to insert the money first and then type in what you need or where you want to go. - All the stations reprised by distance, rather than one fare like New York. Look up your station on the map and determine how much to put on your ticket with the corresponding number. - If you can’t find your destination fare you can purchase the ticket for the lowest possible price and pay the difference at the fare adjustment station when you get to where you’re going. - Keep your tickets, you must insert them on the way out of the station you’re arriving at. - Consider getting a Suica or Passmo refillable IC card. They’re both generally the same and can make traveling a lot more streamlined. Buying tickets at machines is fine, it’ll just take more time and standing in front of the map trying to figure out which station is yours because sometimes the lettering isn’t in romaji (roman characters) and is really obnoxious when you’re late for a dinner date. - Trains stop running around 12:30-1am depending on the train line and what day it is. Weekends it’s open a bit later. Plan accordingly! Taxis are expensive. - if you have a JR pass and taking a JR train you can show your ticket at the manned gate close to the automatic ticket gates, make sure the date is visible for the attendant and you can pass through without a purchased ticket. - Look on the ground at the platform to find the line for the doors. You’ll probably see people lining up to enter the train, just copy what people do! Make sure you aren’t in line for a ‘green car’ which is a more expensive car, it’ll usually be marked green. Train etiquette: - talking on your phone on the train is not allowed. - Take your backpack off on the train. - Just talking on the train is considered rude. - When you get into the train move all the way to the middle, don’t stand by the doors, things might get tight. - Let people off the train first, then get on. - As a rule, just copy what other commuters do.

Passmo: ¥1000 (pink, robot). Suica: ¥2000 (green, penguin). JR Rail Pass: $255~. Great if you’re traveling from tokyo-kyoto and back, or doing several stops in many cities.

I want to spend as much time as I can not having to worry about traveling while I’m out and about so before I go to Japan I check out what routes and stations I’ll be using the most. Google maps is pretty accurate for train routes so I’d start there, just make sure you’re searching in Japan time in Google maps, like don’t check at 4pm EST or else it’ll say the trains aren’t running in Japan, instead, look at 7am or 6pm to get train times for 8pm/7am. I like to star places I want to go on Google maps, that’s been really helpful for when I’m offline and just want to glance at the map to find the best route to the star. Google maps also updates your GPS offline so you’ll always know where in the city you are, even without data. However, I’d suggest getting some kind of data plan with your service provider so you can search things on the fly. I know AT&T does a day by day data package and T-Mobile has it built in or something, but yeah, I’d highly recommend doing that…I don’t know anything about getting phones or SIM cards in Japan and I think it’s pretty complicated so I’d rather pay a little extra for the convenience of using my own phone. Back to trains, I’d also suggest watching Youtube videos and reading forums about train travel to help prepare for what could easily become really overwhelming. All (or maybe most) train signs use roman letters and most have English translations and are VERY convenient and also EVERYWHERE so just look out for signage if things get nuts.

AIRPORTS:

Narita Airport to Tokyo

The cheapest (and usually best) train I take (when I’m not in a rush to get to Tokyo) is the Limited Express (also called Keisei Main Line), which costs about $10 (or $5 if you use a Passmo or Suica IC card). It’s the regular train and not a fancy bullet train into the city. It’ll take you to Aoto, Nippori and Ueno stations for transfers to other lines in about 71mins. Just look for all the orange signs towards the train and don’t forget to buy the ticket first upstairs in the airport. Stand at the sign on the ground that says Keisei Limited Express or Main Line. If your back hurts, you’re tired and just want to splurge and get to your lodging asap I’d suggest taking the Keisei Skyliner (not to be confused with the Keisei Limited Express, it’s confusing), or the N’EX (Narita Express). They’re super fast trains with nice seats that go directly into Tokyo proper but they’re $20-$40. If you’re going to activate your JR rail pass on the day you enter Japan I’d suggest taking these more expensive trains because they’ll be free when you show your JR pass, the same goes for when you’re coming back to Narita. Sometimes choosing is just a matter of which trains are coming sooner and how you feel. These trains are extremely punctual so don’t waste any time getting to the platform if you’ve already bought your ticket. All of these trains pick up on the SAME TRACk so don’t get on the first train that comes or you could get kicked off/take a slow train you paid $$$ for. On the ground there will be strips where the doors for each train open. Stand in line at your train’s place marker and pay attention to the train times on the board. This part is important to remember because you’ll be jet lagged like crazy and it’s important to get on the right train. Optional tip- walk to the front of the train because there will be less people standing and more seats available there.

*Before you leave the airport and walk into customs get all your wifi needs out of the way. Once you’re out of immigration the wifi goes away.

QUICK NARITA TRAIN GUIDE: Keisei Limited Express AKA just the regular old train- $10~one way. could face crowds of daily commuters but I never have. 1h10m. Fastest: Keisei Skyliner: 36 mins to Nippori to transfer to the JR Yamanote line. $23~one way at 1h5m (discounts with a Passmo or Suica card) Comfiest: Narita Express or N’EX: round trip ticket $40 (within a two week period), one way $30. leave every 25-40 mins. 1h30m, way comfier. fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

Hanaeda I don’t know shit about Hanaeda. Will update if I have something to say. Below is a great guide for the airport trains!



SHINKANSEN/JR Rail Pass

- Activate your JR Rail Pass at either Tokyo station or Shinagawa station. I’d suggest going to Tokyo station because seats tend to fill up at Tokyo station and it’ll be awful trying to find good seats at Shinagawa if you didn’t reserve your seats. On that note you can reserve your seats at the JR ticket counter, which is highly recommended. - You can now buy JR Rail passes in Japan but they’re more expensive. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/04/01/national/jr-rail-pass-available-japan-ending-frustration-tardy-tourists/#.WgEgzraZPXE - Watch out for which Shinkansen you get on. Nozomi is an express train that the JR rail pass doesn’t cover so you’ll either get kicked off (happened to me) or fined (thank god it didn’t happen to me). This sucked because our station in Kyoto was air conditioned and it had snacks. The station we got kicked off at was outdoors and there was weird construction happening so it was loud and hot. I guess as a general rule, don’t take an unnecessary risk when you have a good train platform situation. I guess also don’t travel in August like I did. Things were definitely worse when they would’ve been fine if the weather had been nicer. - Hikari is regular express and ok, kodama is the slowest train stopping at all stops, it you’re going from Tokyo-Kyoto do NOT get on the Kodama. - You can buy snacks on the platform or on the train in case you’ve forgotten to eat before your 3 hour trip to Kyoto.

Rough Yen to USD currency conversion: ¥50=$0.50 ¥100=$1 ¥1,000= $10 ¥10,000= $100 ¥100,000= $1,000

***GENERAL TIPS***

- Call your bank/arrange with your bank online and tell them you’ll be in Japan. The first time I went to Japan my credit union actually got the dates wrong and I couldn’t use my card for three days (that was cool). - On that note, bring some cash to exchange when you get to the airport. I tend to bring $300 or more because Japan runs on cash, so you’ll most likely need to get cash out a lot anyway, might as well do it it one lump sum at the airport without all the small fees. Because it’s so safe I wouldn’t worry about carrying around like $600/¥60,000 in cash. - *A note about safety* if you leave your bag in a coffee shop upstairs and go and grab a coffee downstairs it’ll be there, untouched, when you get back. Stealing is very uncommon in Japan and everyone leaves their bags to save their seats. It’s kind of obnoxious when you’re trying to sit down at a Tsutaya coffee shop and there are no seats available because everyone’s put their bags down to save seats while they get their coffee or browse the magazines. Also if you leave your bag on a train it will most likely be there at the end of the line or at some lost and found at a big station. I’d suggest trying to call or going to the lost and found and your bag will most likely be there or they’ll direct you to where it would be. And then maybe they’ll pay for your train ride back home because of the inconvenience you experienced. - Keep your trash with you. Most people have a little baggy or something that they keep trash in until they get home. There are very few public trash cans, especially outside of Tokyo, even in large cities, so don’t buy something with a messy wrapper and expect to get rid of it quickly. Or eat it right in front of the place you bought it so you can throw everything away there. - Keep your passport with you at all times, it’s actually ILLEGAL for you not o have it! Nothing will happen probably but keep it with you for tax discounts (which are usually a waste of time) or entry onto trains that require your passport, like the N’EX. Ghibli also requires your passport for entry. - Consider learning how to squat pee in hole in the ground toilets. Japan has AMAZING public bathrooms and badet toilets, every bathroom I’ve been in is clean and beautiful. BUT if you’re in a park or out in the boonies there will be hole toilets. I had to pee SOOO bad when I was in the park once that I made myself learn how to not pee all over myself in a hole toilet. For women it’s fucking hard. Toilets can be a hole in the wall labeled or described as ‘international’ and specifically women’s toilets can sometimes be found in a different space. You’ll find these in old establishments, mostly. - You can drink in public and in parks. Bring a foldable picnic blanket with you, read a book and drink a beer while enjoying Japan’s beautiful public parks!! - Google maps is usually 100% BAD at finding Airbnb locations. Triple check hotel/Airbnb spots and make sure to get a detailed list of how to get to your lodging. - Try everything in the vending machines. EVERYTHING.

- Going to a shrine is like a good luck charm and is less of a religious thing, feel free to copy the locals when they go into a shrine and of course be very respectful of where to go and not to go. Sometimes it costs to get in and it’s always a good idea to throw some money into the box at the shrine, you’ll see people doing this. It is not rude to copy locals and donate money to the Shinto shrines. While at shrines wash your hands in the little wells before you enter. DO NOT drink the water, you’ll see people washing their mouths with it, it’s not to drink just for washing and cleansing.

- Japanese culture revolves around strict social rules and etiquette to help make everyone’s lives better. It’s a more empathetic society but with the cost of a bit more strict lifestyle. Please keep in mind that a city with 15million people functions only when everyone is aware and courteous of each other. Stand on the left side of the escalator, walk on the right. Follow signs and floor guides. Be aware of your surroundings. - Airbnb is a little illegal in Japan, most airbnbs will tell you not to talk or linger outside your apartment or risk getting kicked out. Just a heads up. - The Japanese do bread better than the French, that’s how I feel anyway, definitely buy some bread or pastries at local bakeries while you’re there. - Before you head out for the day I suggest hitting up your local 7 Eleven/Lawson/Family Mart and grabbing an onigiri and a drink. Just in case! Also maybe before you sleep because sometimes the jet lag can get awful and you wake up at 3am starving. - Take your shoes off before entering a home or a temple. There will be spots to take shoes off before entering, keep an eye out for them.

Ghibli: - Tickets go on sale the 10th of each month for the next month https://l-tike.com/st1/ghibli-en/sitetop - You can enter at 4 different times throughout the day, I’d suggest trying for 10am but 12 is fine too if you can’t get the 10am! plan for 4-5 hours inside the museum. - You’ll probably spend a lot of money at the museum shop, plan accordingly. - Bring your passport. - You MUST print out your Ghibli ticket. There’s not an obvious place to find a printer and printing at 7-11’s without the proper applications can be really tough. Print them out before your trip. In a pinch you can stress print your Ghibli tickets onto 5x6 glossy photos at a 7/11. They laughed and let us in anyway so TESTED. - Inoshikira park is gorgeous on a nice day, I’d suggest planning a whole day in Kichijoji around your museum trip. Kichijoji also has great shopping!! - No photos are allowed inside the museum. - Take notes! There’s a whole section where you get to see ORIGINAL paintings from the studio and it’s fantastic.

Fun stuff! Suggestions!

FOOD/DRINKS - Sushi Daiwa and Sushi Dai. AMAZING sushi at Tsukiji Market. Sushi Dai will have a 6 hour wait while Sushi Daiwa, their sister restaurant right next door, will have an hour wait. It’s less famous but still very good. Expect $40 per person but it’ll be the best, freshest sushi you’ve ever had. https://goo.gl/maps/j9SAvWDwkW42 - Golden Gai, lots of small vendors, 5-6 people per restaurant tops, for after drinks or drinking food. https://goo.gl/maps/ZZgiK2n5fZn - Sakura Tei, Okonomiyaki in Harajuku, https://goo.gl/maps/iYzg2xwYhLF2 - 7/11 or Family mart have great onigiri and sandwiches, plus great general to-go stuff. - Ichiran ramen https://goo.gl/maps/hM7qVP6y7vA2 - Eggcellent https://goo.gl/maps/sZY6mQZvkxj

PLACES TO CHILL - Daikanyama T Site, Nakameguro (beautiful bookstore and cafe spot). https://goo.gl/maps/5AcADepdnyS2 - Tokyo Hands Shibuya, top floor (there’s a cafe and a cool science section) https://goo.gl/maps/f48GRHqGPAn - Meiji shrine, Yoyogi park - Karaoke anywhere. Dress up!!!

NEIGHBORHOODS to visit in Tokyo and wander around. - Kichijoji - start with this amazing bakery and then wander https://goo.gl/maps/ejmjn9DN4Uo - Harajuku - Shimokitazawa - Naka-Meguro - Shinjuku - Shibuya - Nakano (Nakano Broadway) - Akihabara (Get some gotcha pons at Gee store.) - Ikebukuro

SHOPPING - Best alt comics: Taco Che in Nakano Broadway https://goo.gl/maps/PVTM4dcg1tG2 - Tokyu Hands - a stationary and all around amazing store - Daiso 100Yen stores https://goo.gl/maps/dv4XAcBpYUn - Galaxxxy https://goo.gl/maps/fzxQ6jJGQb12 - Muji - a non branded, simple/clean living store - Tokyo Station underground stores. God, like everything you could ever want.   - Super Potato video game store in Akihabara https://goo.gl/maps/eQ2HVRNkoX22 - Sunshine City in Ikebukuro, has Pokemon store. https://goo.gl/maps/4z3gVUokdJn - Do purikura pretty much in any arcade. - Harajuku! Tin Tin store, cat street, pretty much just wander. https://goo.gl/maps/yzJowRr9zcs - Tokyo Midtown Mall, really nice stores and art museums, always events https://goo.gl/maps/NyervLaznt32

Helpful Phrases: *pronunciation tip: Desu ka is pronounced “deska”, ikkimasu ka is pronounced “ikkimaska”

Mizo o kudasai. Water please. Ohayō. Good morning. Konban wa. Good evening. Hajimemashite. Nice to meet you. Konnichi wa. Hello. Gomen nasai. I'm sorry. (Informal) O-genki desu ka? How are you? Toidai doko desuka? Where is the toilet? Aisu/Hotto Kohi o kudasai. Iced/Hot coffee please. Ii desu ka? Is it ok? Hai. Ii desu. It's ok. Okanjo wo kudasai. Bill please. Kore wa ikura desu ka? How much is this? Mo ichido wo kudasai. Please say it again. iie, kekkoudes. No thanks iie, chotto… —No, a little (a less harsh response “to do you like ___” when you really don’t like or want it. Nani. What. Itsu. When. Doko. Where. Ikki. Go. Ikura. How much/amount. Kore/sore/are: this/that/that over there. Irasshai mase. Welcome. Nan mei Sama deska? How many people? 3 ppl (San nin desu) 5 ppl (go nin des) Eigo no menyuu ga arimasuka? Do you have an English menu? Onomi mono wa? Would you like a drink? Omachi kudasai. Please wait. Osusume wa nan deska? What do you recommend? Kore wa nan deska? What is this? Tamago wo nuki ni shite moraemaska? Can I have it without egg? (Shrimp: ebi) hai - yes. iie - no. Jya, mata. See you soon. also matanae O-genki desu ka? How are you? O-namae wa? What's your name?

Casual phrases Majide- seriously?? Uso /Uso desho - it’s a lie! No way! Yabai- terrible!Amazing!

The luggage combo** Tokyo is luggage and cart friendly for the most part, but there are still stations where you’ll have to lug your bags up and down a flight of stairs, keep this in mind while packing and save your back! I’d suggest not bringing a lot of clothes, but enough exactly for each day of your trip, maybe even one outfit less because you’ll probably go shopping. Bring half the week’s clothing if you think you’ll do laundry, most airbnbs have laundry. However some don’t have dryers, it’s hanging only. I bring a carry on suitcase, a rolled up duffle bag inside and a roll top backpack with middle strap. That way you can check the duffle full of dirty clothes and all the non-breakable things you buy and stuff the carry on suitcase with the mugs and delicate things you’ll inevitably want to bring back. Roll-top backpacks are good for spillover stuff and usually nicer on your back. The carryon suitcase will be good for resting your backpack on while waiting around in the airport or for trains. It’s all easy to take a part if you’re going up and down steps and not all the weight will be on one thing so it’ll be easier for your back.

Like I said, I’m heading back to Japan really soon so I’ll update this with any new info I feel is worth adding when I come back ^_^ I hope this helps in the mean-time!!

-nat

[trynabetravelpro]

Japan post coming sooooon

Also I got a new camera heeyyy

[trynabetravelpro]

HIIII THIS IS PARIS!!

Are you going to Paris sometime soon?? DO YOU REALLYY REALLY WANNA GO TO PARIS? This post will be painful if you can’t but will INSPIRE you to go soon, and hopefully SUPER helpful if you’re headed there soon. Here’s what I learned on my last trip to Paris---------- March 17-23, 2016. Weather was dry, but a bit nippy. Needed a large coat and sweater but wore short sleeves underneath because shops and restaurants tended to be warm. 

5:30pm flight out of JFK- arriving at CDG 5am. Wifi at the airport works well. 

Airport Travel: How to get from CDG airport into the heart of Paris: When you get out of the plane look for signs towards RER/Paris by train. You’re looking for the RER Blue. There are several electronic ticket booths when you get close (for me, it was a LONG walk). 

When I arrived there was a MASSIVE line at one of the booths at the bottom of the stairs...and no line at the others...just walk around a bit to find another booth. Then follow signs to the RER B, down the escalator and into the train! A good way to know if you’re on the right train is to look at the electronic sign by the train, see what name it says it’s going to and check on the little line map on the top of the inside of the train to see where you are compared to where the train is headed. The ones at the airport are going to either Saint Remy or Robinson. Both are right if you’re just going into Paris. Those trains sit there for a while FYI, since it’s the end of the line.

^^ Red dots, CDG, Paris is just a few stops and it’ll take you to the Metro, Red arrows are the names of the places that’ll be on the sign.  Once I was in Paris I popped into a starbucks close by and logged into the wifi. I haven't gotten any spam from these ‘free’ wifi places...yet...so it’s fine to give them your email and stuff. I told my parents I’d gotten there safe :] and told my airbnb I was in town and was able to coordinate with him what time to meet at the house. 

Time from CDG to Chatlet Les Halles at 8am - 1hr

Neighborhoods to stay in: My French friend Violaine told me to find airbnbs by these stops: Bastille, Voltaire, Nation, Maraicher, Pere Lachaise, Place d’italie, Saint Paul, Oberkampf, Rambuteau, Chatlet, Republic. I stayed in Le Marais right by Chatlet which was great because I was in the center of everything. It was near big monuments and museums (I stayed right next to Le Centre Pompidou!) but it was actually really quiet. The second half of my trip I stayed by Oberkampf. A slightly more party/nightlife area but still very central. There was a cool market and book store right downstairs!

Getting around: - EVERYTHING is walking distance UNLIKE New York. I walked like 4 subway stations in 10 minutes. Whenever you can, walk! - I like to use Google Maps to star everything. A cool thing about Google Maps is that it’ll track your offline location! Only thing is, it won’t track your favorites offline. It’ll show you a star...but not if it’s a shop or a restaurant. It was helpful to check out the stars around where I’d be and sort of commit to memory which stars were which. I relied on wifi the entire time. - Metro starts at 5:30am and end at 1:15am on weekdays/2am on weekends. - I liked to buy 1 ticket every time I traveled so I wouldn’t lose my tickets or get them mixed up with the ones I used...but apparently there’s a cheaper way where you buy 14 at a time! Maybe do that! - Ticket/Billet machines have an english option. Thank F***.  

Paris tips:

- If your flight is early like 8am then I’d suggest spending that extra money and getting a cab/Uber to the airport. The lines were insane for both security and bag check. You MUST stand in the bag check line to get your passport checked and be questioned about your belongings. leave 1hr30 for that line, seriously. 

- For some reason I had a terrible time with doors. Just in general...the doors either had crazy knobs/keys that got stuck or had buttons that weren’t immediately clear to press to get out of?? Just a heads up. Doors may be tricky.

- Doorbells and lights for the hallway look the same. If you have a hard time getting up 6 flights of stairs with luggage (like me) the hallway lights will probably turn off. It’s ok. Just, make sure to find the hallway light button and not a doorbell...I did this. I ran away. 

- My airbnb liked to keep the window open in the bathroom. It was f******g freezing at 5am when I had to pee. Bring a sweatshirt for cuddles at night. Also this is in March. 

- Both of my airbnbs said they were non smoking but when I got there there was definitely a lingering smokey smell. ALSO one night they had people over and smoked in the house with the windows open. The French smoke like crazy. Just FYI you can’t seem to get away from it. 

- Young people say ‘oui’ like ‘weh’

- Saying ‘Bonjour’ and then immediately afterwards ‘Hello’ is a good way to say ‘I’m trying here but I’m just not good enough at French yet’ and they’ll appreciate it then speak to you in English-- rather than just saying ‘Hello.’ I found just saying Hello first felt rude. 

- Don’t tip in France! only if it was INCREDIBLE service do you tip- 1euro tops. They actually pay wait staff. I tipped twice 3euros and my friend was like -no-. Apparently it’s sort of a come on to the waiters. 

-Tap water is safe to drink, like NYC! Also bread is better bc of the water. EAT BREAD. I don’t like baguettes in the states because they’re dry. NOT HERE. EAT EM YUMMMM.

- Petting people’s dogs (even staring at people’s dogs) is considered rude!! Like, imagine if someone wanted to pet your child, that’s how they take it. 

- Because your sleep schedule will be all backwards it’s best to invest in a few snacks on your first day. Either at the airport or right when you get out of the station try and grab a sandwich or fruit or something so at 3am when you wake up starving you’ll be thanking your younger self.  

- Lots of homes have a ladder heater that you can put your towels on! THEY’RE AWESOME WHY DON’T WE HAVE THESE???!! A warm towel after a shower starts the day off better than coffee. 

BEST SPOTS!

- Soya, vegetarian restaurant by Republique. A DINNER MUST.  - Le Loir dans La Théière, an Alice in Wonderland themed tea house with AMAZING cakes. There’s a line on the weekends but before 5 on a weekday it’s easy to get in. you sit down, order your tea and tell them you also want a cake and they escort you to check out which cake you want so you can see all of them! YAY CAKE -- here’s a nice post about it--  - Les P’tites indecises, CUTE small wifi coffee shop and lunch place. sit by the window. Really wish I’d gone to Kawaii cafe which is close by but was closed when I tried to go ;_; - L’As du Fallafel, a great falafel place in the heart of Le Marais - Fleux’ - really cool home goods store that stretches into 3 or 4 shops. - Cluny Museum, Medieval museum, my favorite. I like old medieval stuff. My french friend said it was boring, lol. - Les Super Heroes, my favorite comic shop. Good for small/self publishers as well as big names. Could spend a day in here. 

What I did in Paris was really just walk around. I love THE BOOK Les Miserables so I went to see Maison de Victor Hugo, which was mostly boring but right inside this beautiful park where it’s good to picnic. Also close by on the left hand bottom side of the park is a smaller square park that’s old and quiet and beautiful. I walked a LOT in Le Marais and bought lots of croissants. Drinking wine in the park with a baguette and cheese is fun because it’s illegal in the US! I bought a zillion crepes. I probably lived off of fromage, egg and ham crepes for two days. worth it. Definitely go into Notre Dame. It’s mind-blowing. You can get a coin stamped of Pope Francis! I walked around several outdoor markets that sold antiques and books, they’re everywhere! One was Marche Popincourt. Mostly, I just walked. I love architecture, I drew in the park. I’d suggest bringing two pairs of shoes and bandaids!  I think a week is the perfect amount of time to see Paris. If you want to do all the touristy things you just have to hit the ground running. Everything is very close together but you could spend hours in the Lourve, Musee D'Orsay, in any of the gardens...I'd write an itenerary if you really want to see it all...but if you just want to enjoy it like you would as if it were your hometown, I'd suggest having an idea of what you want to do each day and then just play it by ear :)

Before you fly checklist: Are they obvious? prob yes. Do I forget every time? yes. 

- Before you fly--Call your bank and tell them which dates you’ll be abroad. - Tell your airbnb you’ll text them at the airport when you arrive because your arrival time can always change. Airlines try to be on time but sometimes it’s just impossible. - It’s good to find out which terminals you’re flying into and out of. - Leave enough room in your bag to bring home several books/chocolates. - before you leave download the basic Paris metro map app. It’ll be a savior. I recommend this in any city, I use ‘NYC Subway’ every single day.  - On the plane learn some basic phrases with the ‘FR Lite’ app. my fave. 

SOO....Don’t you want to go to Paris now? Enjoy your trip, hope this helps!!! PLS message me if something is UTTERLY wrong. ty xoxo, standbysurvivor